KEY POINTS
- Anders Antonsen withdrew for the third straight year, calling Delhi’s hazardous air unfit.
- Shared data showing Delhi’s AQI at a hazardous level of 348.
- His exit brings total of high-profile player withdrawals citing pollution to four.
- Antonsen expressed hope for cleaner air during BWF World Championships scheduled in Delhi this summer.
NEW DELHI: In an embarrassing blow to the tournament, Danish Badminton player and world number three Anders Antonsen has withdrawn from the India Open, citing the “extreme pollution” in the Indian capital. His decision marks the third consecutive year he has pulled out of the event for the same reason.
The 28-year-old, who was seeded sixth, announced his move on Instagram early Wednesday, questioning the suitability of Delhi as a host city under current conditions.
“Due to the extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment, I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament,” Antonsen stated.
He added that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) had fined him $5,000 “once again” for his late withdrawal.
Another major embarrassment for India as a host nation
World No.2 Dane Anders Antonsen has revealed he pulled out of the Indian Open due to severe pollution in Delhi, saying the city is “not fit to host an international badminton event.” He even accepted a $5,000 fine.
A day… pic.twitter.com/SnxU2EyqkU— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) January 14, 2026
AQI in ‘Hazardous’ zone
To underscore his concern, Antonsen posted a screenshot from air quality monitor IQAir showing Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) at a “hazardous” level of 348 in the early hours of the morning.
Delhi and its surrounding areas grapple with severe smog every winter, a toxic mix of vehicle emissions, construction dust, and agricultural burn-off trapped by cold air, leading to widespread respiratory illnesses.
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Withdrawals mount for prestigious event
Antonsen’s departure brings the total number of high-profile withdrawals from the $950,000 tournament to four.
He is joined by his compatriot and defending champion Viktor Axelsen, China’s Li Shi Feng, and France’s Arnaud Merkle, all of whom have also cited health concerns related to the poor air quality.
Hope for summer world championships
Despite his criticism, Antonsen expressed hope for improvement later in the year, stating, “Crossing my fingers that it will be better in the summer when the World Championships will take place in Delhi.”
The BWF World Championships are scheduled for the capital in August.
The 2026 India Open badminton tournament is already underway, starting from Tuesday, January 13, to Sunday, January 18, at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The cluster of withdrawals has cast a spotlight on the perennial environmental challenge and raised questions about the scheduling of elite sporting events in Delhi during its peak pollution season.
Local authorities have historically implemented emergency measures such as school closures, construction halts, and traffic restrictions to combat the crisis.
